johnson



A w. IOHNSON. MEANS FOR SHAPING AND DRYING FABRIC ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APILZB. I920.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

- 2 S ETSSHEET I. J0 8 1 C91! 7 We?" ,7 I v lhzajaiznspn/ A. w. JOHNSON. MEANS FOR SHAPING AND DRYING FABRIC ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES- PATENT ARTHUR w. JOHNSON, or MI WAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNQR TO' B ADLEY KNIT- orrlcs.

TING COMPANY, or DELAVAN', WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or WISCONSIN.

MEANS its srrAriN AND DRYING FABRIC ARTIoL s.

seat-t mwassea Patented Aug is, 1922.

as irates fi led lipi'il'iZS, 1920. semi No. 377389.

To-allwhomitmay concern} 5 I Be it known that I, An'rfrien W; oii soN, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county ofMilivaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful I'I'np'rovementin Means for Shaping and Drying Fabrie Articles, of which the following is a full, 'cleanconcise and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the art otfinishing fabric articles of manufacture and is concerned more particiilarly vvith'an improved arrangement for shaping and fabric articles, especially knitted gloves, hosiery and the like. 1 r y V In finishing various fabric, especially knitted articles they are put throilghizvhat is commonly known as a shaping or drying process Which consists in arranging the article in a moist condition" upon a shaping form and drying the article to shape. Heretofore in the art, grea't difliqiilty has been experienced properly positioiiing the fabric article upon the forin. Further difficulty has been experienced inniaintaining such proper posit oning durlng the shap ing e1; drying process In attempting to maiiitaln the positioniiig of the article various meansof which those skilled in the art are Well aware, have been provided, such as for example, fabric holders secured to the form to prevent the article from creeping up during the drying process,

or even pins have been arranged through the exterior surface of thearticledisfiguring and consequently detracting from the saleable appearancethre'of, Furthermore, such provisions as these have in no wa aided in arranging the article upon the form. This has beena considerable problem in that it ha's been custoinary for the operator to grasp the open end of thestocking or'm itten for example, and pull the same on to the forin. Belle'd, flared and nonuniform open ends, the extent of Which has been increased instret'ching the article to the desired length h'ave been the result. Fabric holders, the nap of which is inteiidedto prevent creeping er the article, are not ada ted for ,cooperation with such belled o1 ared ends, but ni ust be arranged ata censiderable' distance therefrom." Cons? quently,evei1 though znunii'iormity of length down to such holder Were thereby insured, there Would be no provision for providing a uniformity of length from the holder to the end of the knitted article, jNon-unitormity in the dimensions of the finished or ultimate pro'duct increases the ivorkot' the pairers and-frequently makes reshaping necessary.

further difficulty ofth'e priorfart has been in casting a satisfactory shaping form With a sinoothexterior surface and an internal conducting channel tree 'lfroin' flaws and other defects: The shrinkage of th e netal around the core has made proper removal of the same impractical; Furthermore,

shifting of such a inold was frequent inconsistent, Wall thickness and blows como therwise unsatisfactory,

Primarilythe object 111:) invention is to obviate the above disadvantages, andineludes the provision ofanimproved method of and means for positioning the fabric article upon the forin and for inaintain- "ing the same properly positioned duringthe shaping or drying process. cjfurther obis to provide a novel 1nannerof releasingthe article upon the completion of the shapingor drying process. Another object istlie provision of a novel, simple and improved shaping forin and a still further object is the provision of an improved drying process, which consists in arranging the article upon a shaping form conveying a inediuin into the form andthen discharging the same through the tfabric the article arranged thereupon, leaving the fabric 111 a more lofty or better condition "than heretofore, The following advantages creased;

{non Sheet-'n1etal :tor ns frequently do not possess the desiredr gldlty and have proven (6) Better condition of the fabric upon completion of the shaping and drying process than heretofore.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a highly successful form of apparatus for carrying out my invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line l5t of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken sub-- stantially on the line of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a side clevational view of an alternative adaption of my invention; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modification.

I have considered it conducive to a clear understanding of my invention to illustrate primarily the apparatus for shaping and drying a particular knitted article, and while I have taken a knitted glove or mitten as an example, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to use in such particular connection, but is adapted for shaping and drying hosiery and various other knitted articles as well.

To shape and dry the knitted article a shaping form 1, adapted to be heated from within to any desired temperature, utilized. This shaping form comprises a pair of supplemental sections 2 and 3 cast or otherwise, suitably fashioned, preferably of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. This sectional formation of the form facilitates coring the internal conducting channel therein and convenient removal of the core in spite of any shrinkage of the metal thereupon. The section 3 comprises a back por tion having upwardly extending finger portions 4 to simulate the back of a hand, and a downwardly extending portion 5 of semicircular horizontal section which extending semi-circular portion 5, together with the co-operating semi-circular portion 6 of the section 2 comprises a conduit forconveying heated fluid into the form. The section 2 includes, in addition to the downwardly extending conduit-forming portion 6, a palm portion having upwardly extend ing finger portions 7. The adjacent edges of the finger portions 4- and 7, which finger portions are preferably offset as shown in Figure 2 to produce a lap formation of arrangement of the fingers of the fabric glove, are provided with co operating flanges S and 9 respectively therealong. These co-opcrating flanges provide, in effect a baffie wall through each of the fingers resulting in an effective and even distribution of the heat through the finger portions of the glove or mitten to be dried. Co-operating lugs or'prongs l0 and 11, carried adjacent the upper ends of the finger portions 4 and 7 respectively, provide for aligning the form sections so that they may be properly secured together.

Outlet openings 12, distributed through the walls of the form sections 2 and 3, permit the heated air, steam or other fluid conveyed to the internal conducting channel 13 to pass therefrom and through the fabric of the glove 1% (Figure 4), or other article arranged upon the form, to properly dry the same. This discharge of the heating fluid through the fabric of the glove leaves the fabric in a better or more lofty condition than heretofore. Integral longitudinally arranged flanges or webs 15 carried by the internal faces of the sections 2 and3, serve as bafiies for distributing the heat properly through the form, while the transversely arranged webs 16 retard the flow of the heated fluid through the conduit portion of the form sufficient to adequately heat and thereby properly dry the gauntlet portion of the g ove.

An independent thumb section 17 is suitably secured in proper position upon the palm portion of the form section 2, as by means of suitable machine screws 1.8 or the like threaded into suitable bosses 19 carried by the section 2. The heads of the screws 18 are countersunk so as to be, substantially flush with or within the outer surface of the forms. The heated fluid is conveyed from the internal conducting channel 13, into the hollow thumb section 17 by way of certain of the outlet openings 12 distributed through the section 2. The hollow thumb section 1 7 is provided with a substan tially centrally disposed web 20 and a plurality of outlet openings 21 therethrough from the forward to the rear face thereof, whereby the heat is distributed evenly through the fabric of the thumb 22 of the glove 14:.

The sections 2 and 3 are secured together by means'of suitable machine screws 23 or the like. A ring or annulus 24L embraces the co-operating conduit portions 5 and 6 thereof, adjacent their termination in the palm and back portions of the form. The ring annulus 24:, provides an effective stripper or means for releasing the knitted article from the positioning member as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

I do not intend to limit the present invention to the construction of the form herein disclosed, nor to the particular manner of conveying the heated fluid through the form and consequently these novel provisions may be varied without departing from the pres- !ent invention. For example, the present invention is as equally applicable in connection with the shaping of a stocking and various other knitted articles as it isin connection with a glove .or mitten.

The ring or annulus 2a is counter bored or otherwise provided with a coaxial pocket 25 for the reception of the fabric engaging portion of the positioning and positionmaintaining member. The fabric positioning member comprises a sleeve 26 slidably mounted upon the downwardly extending conduit portions of the form land secured adjacent its lower end'as by means of suitable rivets or the like between the forked arms of a yoke member 27. Theyoke member 27 is fixedly mounted. upon the upper end of an operating rod'28 the lower end of which rod 28 is connected with a foot operated treadle 29- adapted for'movement about its )lVOt '80, wherebywsliding movement of tie positioning member along the upright conduit portion ofthe forml is effected. 9 U

lVithin its length the rod 2 8'is arranged between a pair of plates 31, the inner faces of each of which plates is provided with a fibrous or other suitable friction facing 32. These plates are clampedwin engagement with the rod 28 by means ofa pair of threaded stems or studs 38, the free ends ofwhich threaded stems engage in suitable nuts-34= between each of which nuts 34 and theadjacent platefil a coiled spring35 is inter posed.- The friction faced plates 31%31 are carried by a flange 36" depending from a mounting base ElT, theoontact or frictional engagementbetween the faces of these plates and the rod 28 maintaining the rod positively against displacement from any position into which itis adjusted or moved by.

means of-the treadle' 29. a v.

The mounting based? is mounted 'upona table or other suitable form supporting surface 38 beneath orothe'rwise suitably positioned relativewhich a fluid convcying conduit d0 is arranged for c'on'veying heated air, steam or the" like to the forms. Air upright conduit 4-1 communicating with the conduit 40 at its lower end extend's'uptinto open communication with a bore provided through the horizontally arranged portion of the momrting base Substantially one half of this bore is defined by an integral upright flange 41-2 between which fiange-4r2 and a co operating clamping bracket 43'-the lower end of the conduit port1on*56 of the form 1 is securely clampeda's by means o l": suitable bolts ME. Thus-the internal conducting channel :13- of the form 1 is placed in convenient and effective communication with the supply conduit 40;

- The sleeve 26 is provided wi th openings 45 so as to not interfere appreciably with the: passage of: the heated fluid" through-the outlet openings 12} The upper end of the the form 1.

sleeve 26 is provided with anannular.ipo'r- ,tion of increased -diameter, which annular portion is embraced by a fabric engaging elem'ent 46 in the nature of a sheet metal'ring secured thereto-by means of suitable rivets or. the like and provided-swith a lower serrated fabric engaging edge 47. The annu lar-port1on of increased dlaineter ad acent the upper end of the sleeve 26 spaces the fabric engaging element. therefrom slightly so that the lower'end of the knitted article will be positively and effectively engaged by the serrated edge 47 upon the downward movement of the positioning member. The continuity of the fabric engaging element about the form provides for engagement with thearticle completely about the inner periphery thereof There are no disengaged gaps and. consequently no bulging of the fabric;

-The ring or 3111111111324: is connected with thefabrio positioning sleeve 26 through set bolts 60, the heads of which engage in suitable openings 61; countersunk from the upp'ersurfaceof the annulus 24; It is to be noted that clearance is I provided between Conse- '60"with-the lower ends of the openings 61.

in releasing the article the sleeve will be "first moved or telesco'p'ed. up 'i-n'to the annu- "his 24" to strip the fabric from the fabric engaging edge fl, further upward 'moveinent returning the annulus to its normal position; This lost motion betwe'enthe annulus 24: and the sleeve 26' ma obviously be provided through a slot and pin arrange :ment or in" any other desired manner. The .resdlt is that any teddencytowardbulging of the gauntlet portion of the glove will restricted to'the lower edge thereof. p The knitted article is positionedand'm'airrtain'd positively positioned duringtheshaping; or dryingprocess as follows: The mitten,- for eXamp'leQi'S arranged loosely upon the form substantially as shown in full lines in Figured; The forward portion of the foot operated "tread'le 29' is then depressed, moving the sleeve 26 downwardly through the rod 28"alo'ng the conduit portion 5+6 of This downward movement of the sleeve 26' first "causes engagement ofthe serratededge'47 of the fabric engaging member 46' oarriedthereby with theinteri'or face of the fabric adjacent the lower end of the glove I4,'further-d'ownward movement o'l? thesl'eeve thereupon stretching the glove to the desired dimensions (determined by the movement of the treadle 29) or in other words, further downward movement of the sleeve 26 properly positions the glove upon the form as shown in dotted lines. Such p0- sitioning has been accomplished heretofore by grasping the lower edge of the glove and pulling the same onto the form and has been accomplished with numerous disadvantageous results hereinbefore set out.

Upon attaining the desired dimensions or the dimensions of the ultimate product, the foot is removed from the treadle 29, the frictional engagement of the faced plates 31-31 positively maintaining the glove in stretched condition, or in other words properly positioned upon the form during the drying thereof.

- The heated air or other drying fluid conveyed from the conduit 10 through the conduit 4:1 to the internal conducting channel 13 of the form passes through the outlet openings 12 and? is distributed evenly through the fabric of the glove to properly dry or iron the same. hen the glove has been properly dried and shaped the rear or after portion of the treadle 29 is depressed, moving the sleeve upwardly along the conduit portion 5-6 of the form 1. Upon telescoplng the fabric engaging or holding member into the ring or annulus 24 the downwardly extending flange or petticoat thereof serves as a stripper for stripping the fabric from the serrated edge 17, thereby releasing the knitted article upon completion of the shaping or dryingprocess-so that it is arranged loosely upon the form and adapted for convenient removal. In order to insure proper drying of the lower edge of the glove, I have provided a plurality of grooves or passages 55 in the inner peripheries of the clamping brackets 42 and 43 for conveying heating fluid from the upright conduit 41 to the lower edge of the glove.

In Figure 6 I have shown my invention embodied-in connection with a hosiery form 56, the particular construction of which form is immaterial.

Inthe modification shown in Figure 7 the ring or annulus 24t' is adapted to be fixed against movement upon the conduit forming portion of the form. The sleeve 26 is free .of thering or annulus 24- for movement into and out of the same, to engage and position the article and release the same sub stantially as pointed out in connection with .Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided for attaining the objects of my invention and obviating the disadvantages 'of the prior art in a simple, reliable and highly effective manner. I do not intend to be limited to the specific disclosure or precise utilities specified, but aim to cover all modifications and adaptations coming within the scope of my invention as set out in the appended claims. The particular arrangement for transmitting relative motion between the shaping form and the positioning elements, as well as the means for maintaining such elements in adjusted position may be varied.

I claim:

1. The combination with a shaping form upon which a fabric article is adapted to be shaped, of a fabric engaging element adjustable relative to said form, means for effecting disengagement of said fabric engaging element, said disengaging means being adjustable relative to said form, and a lost motion connection between said fabric engaging element and said disengaging means.

2. The combination with a shaping form upon which a fabric article is adapted to be shaped, of a fabric engaging element associated with said form, means for effecting disengagement of said fabric engaging element, said disengaging means being movable relative the form.

3. In combination, a form upon which an article to be shaped is adapted for arrangement, an article engaging element associated with said form and means for effecting disengagement of said article engaging element, said disengaging means being movable relative the form and the article engaging means.

4:. In combination, a form upon which an article is adapted for arrangement, means movable along the form to position an article thereupon, article releasing means extending outwardly beyond the surface of the form, said article positioning means being movable between the form and said releasing means to release the article.

5. In combination, a form upon which an article to be shaped is adapted for arrangement, an article engaging member movable along the form to engage the article, means for releasing said engagement, and a lost motion connection between said article engaging and said releasing means.

6. In combination, a form upon which an article to be shaped is adapted for arrangement, means movable along the form to position the article thereupon, means normally restraining said positioning means against movement, and means for moving said positioning means against the resistance of said restrainmg means, the restraining {means holding the positioning means in any position at which the movement of said means is terminated.

7 In combination, a form upon which an article to be shaped is adapted for arrangement, an annulus encircling said form and provided with an annular pocket and an article engaging element encircling the form and movable into and out of said annular pocket.

8. In combination, aform upon which an article to be shaped is adapted for arrangeinent, an annulus encircling said form and provided with an annular pocket, an article engaging element encirolin the form and movable into and out of sai annular pocket and a lost motion connection between said annulus and said article engaging element.

9. In combination, a form upon which an article is adapted for arrangement, means for positioning the article upon the form, rigidly acting means for releasing the article positioning means, said rigidly acting releasing means being movable relative to the form.

10. In combination, a form upon which an article is adapted for arrangement, rigidly acting article engaging means for positioning the article upon the form, and means for releasing engagement of said rigidly acting article engaging means.

11. In combination, a form upon which an article is adapted for arrangement, rigidly acting article engaging means for positioning the article upon the form and means for releasing engagement of said rigidly acting article engaging means, said releasing means being rigidly acting. I

12. In combination, a form upon which an article is adapted for arrangement, means engageable with the article and movable along the form to' position the same thereupon, said means being positioned wholly without the external peripheral dimension of the form throughout its various positions.

13. In combination, a form upon which an article is adapted for arrangement, article engaging means movable along the form in one direction to position the article thereupon, article releasing means in the path of movement of said article engaging means ARTHUR W. JOHNSON. 

